“It is something unprecedented, I think that after the rebound we had possession and the play had to stop when Valencia had possession. It has never happened to me. It is something unprecedented,” repeated Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid coach. The Italian was incredulous at the last play of the game in which Bellingham scored a goal but Gil Manzano had whistled a moment before. “If he whistles when the Valencia goalkeeper refuses, I understand it, but he allowed it to continue and made a mistake,” he explained.
Ancelotti was very clear about a move that will be a source of controversy in the coming days. With time up, Real Madrid took a corner. In the continuation the ball fell to Brahim on the left and just before he crossed, Gil Manzano blew the final whistle. With the ball in the air he whistled for the last time. Then the British Bellingham scored for Madrid.
Frustration made the midfielder vehemently complain to the referee, for which he received a direct red card. “The red to Bellingham bothered us, he didn't say any insults, he was just frustrated. He said ‘fucking’ goal, but that is not an insult and it is also true,” Ancelotti explained. “The player has been clear. He approached vehemently, but it was normal after what happened. It wasn't an insult at all. Let's see what they write in the minutes,” he explained.
Regarding Vinícius' performance in Mestalla, scorer of two goals, Ancelotti highlighted that “he played a very good game, he was decisive for us. Very effective in the area more than outside the area. He has scored two very important goals for us,” he noted.
“This was a very complicated match for many things. An intense, aggressive rival. We were able to get back into the game. We have to continue like this. At this moment a draw in Valencia can be an important point. There is a bit of doubt in my feeling, we could have lost because we played poorly in the first half. But also that it could be won by coming back. I stay halfway,” he concluded.
